What Do You See Little Orange Fellow?

A Brief Introduction: Archie was an unnamed stray who lived for a while in our backyard. One night he was attacked by coyotes who lived in a den not far from our home. Though we heard at least two of the coyotes squealing in pain we had to assume that the beautiful little orange cat I'd just started to try to make friends with was dead.

About a week and a half later I was finishing up exercising in our basement when I looked up at a window. I was surprised to see the orange cat very emaciated and in obvious distress peering in at me. In my earlier attempt to befriend him I'd given him three or four small bowls of kibble (he always hissed at me just before tucking in to the food) so I can only guess he associated our place with his last hope for food. With his badly injured front left leg there was no way he could hunt.

We borrowed a live trap from the cat shelter we volunteered with, eventually caught him in a torrential downpour and got him to the shelter for help. It turned out he was a very affectionate cat who only hissed out of fear and anxiety at the giant stranger coming close to him. His leg couldn't be saved but we managed to adopt him and give him a loving (doting) forever home. Here's Archie's sensory poem.

What do you see little orange fellow?

“Oh, things are more red when they used to be yellow. *

Still the grass has turned green, and the white stuff is gone.

And now I feel good when I roll on the lawn.

Time has run quickly Roy, between you and me,

And though I’ve become slower I’m still happy to be

A part of this family which welcomed a cat,

Who’d wandered past boundaries to hunt mole, mouse and rat.”

What do you hear my quiet listening friend?

“A world you’ll never know, and I wish I could lend

These ears that can hear the growth of a leaf,

The sound of a cloud and what crawls underneath

These layers of ground and put to the test,

These fabulous instruments which perceive my world best.

There are dimensions I hear which paint pictures for me

That you limited apes are unable to see.

Whole universes brimming with magical sound,

Beyond your perception, lives unimagined, unfound!”

What do you taste with that rough raspy tongue?

“Well, to start with what I don’t taste is more readily sung.

I don’t perceive sweetness, my receptors don’t know it,

You crave sugars, things for which I don’t give a shit.

It’s beyond me, but I confess I adore,

The flavour of mouse so I seek for the spore,

And the trail of that kind, and the taste of a fish

Is a delicate treasure for which I could wish.”

And what do you smell with that tiny nose twitching?

“It’s bigger than you think so just take back your bitching.

My nose is a powerhouse of great olfactory nerves,

That follows my prey as it runs, dashes and swerves.

It also allows me to pinpoint that scent,

Of the catnip you’ve hidden ‘bove the oven top vent.

So off you go quick and fetch it for me,

Plus my bros Phillip, Bennie and goofy Toby.

We’re not getting younger while our stash of catnip waits,

For us to lick, snort and roll in, to enjoy while it sates.”

I wonder what you feel, is your long missing leg there?

“Sometimes it’s as if I’m dreaming when out of nowhere

I feel a tickle or the wind in the fur,

Of the limb that I’ve lost, and it seems like a blur,

Since the years I could feel the ground beneath those pads

As if it was real. Us male cats are left pawed. ** I usually had,

The habit of cleaning my face with that leg pulling and skimming

The days worldly grime off while the light begins dimming.”

I know that little buddy that’s why I try to be sure,

To provide you my right hand which you lick as you purr.

And then we wash you with the wetness still there

As my fingers brush down and straighten the hair

That gets rustled and tussled by your daily travels,

Through the backyard and house as adventure unravels.

Archie, for as long as I’m able I’ll be there beside you,

Your bipedal guard dog to watch over and view,

The landscape beyond for all possible threat.

My three-legged buddy ever since we first met!

*Archie had a hypertensive incident recently which caused his left eye to fill with blood. His condition is under control now and he’s healing well, but even though the blood in his eye has drained he still has red staining on his cornea. Whether or not he sees red still can’t actually be determined. I hope not.

**Most male house cats are left pawed, but not all.